Assessment of Potato Production Technologies Among Smallholder Farmers in Marakwet West Sub-County, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya
Keywords:
Potato, Technology, Farmers, Assessment, Marakwet West
Abstract
Potato is a major food and cash crop in the Kenyan highlands, widely grown by small-scale farmers. However, its productivity has been declining over the years in Marakwet West. Thus, this study determined factors affecting Potato production among smallholder farmers in Marakwet West Sub- County, Elgeyo Marakwet County. A survey was conducted in Moiben/ Kuserwo, Cherang’any/ Chebororwa, Lelan and Kapsowar ward in Marakwet West Sub-County. During the survey, smallholder potato farmers totaling 137,513 were targeted for the study of which a sample of 173 of them who were selected via random sampling was administered with semi-structured questionnaires. Descriptive analysis of the data collected was conducted using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The results showed that most farmers were not trained in potato production technologies. However, those who received training on potato production technologies implemented the technology on their farms. The potato production technologies enabled the farmers to improve on their yields, economized on input usage and control of pest and disease. Safe and effective uses of pesticides were potato production technologies applied. However, the farmers did not use the certified seed of Shangi variety instead they sourced seeds from other farmers because the seeds were not available, expensive, lacked information and it was a new product to them. The certified seeds of potatoes should be produced via tissue culture technology and should be affordable and accessed by the farmers.
References
CIP. (2011). Roadmap for investment in the seed potato value chain in eastern Africa. Lima,peru: International Potato Center.
Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, R. S. (1994). Business Research Methods. USA: McGraw-Hill.
County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet. (2013 ). County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2013 - 2017 . Iten,Kenya: County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet.
FAO. (2008). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. International Year of the Potato.
FAO. (2014). FAO. Retrieved 1 2, 2017, from FAO: https://www.potatopro.com/world/potato-
FAO. (2019). FAO. Retrieved 5 4, 2022, from FAO: http://faostat3.fao.org.
FAOSTAT. (2019). Food and agriculture organization statistics of production quantities for Kenya World. Retrieved 1 2, 2022, from FAOSTAT: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#compare
FAOSTAT. (2022). Food and Agricultural Organization Of the United Nations. Retrieved 5 12, 2022, from https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL
Gebre, E., & Giorgis, G. W. (2001). Effects of spatial arrangement on tuber yields of some potato cultivars. Afri crop sci .
Hassen, A., Worku, A., Tafere, M., Tolla, M., & Ahmed, A. (2015). Best fite practice manual for potato production and utilization. Applicable for mid-altitude areas including South Achefer, Burie and Jabitehenan Districts of North-Western Ethiopia.
Hoeffler, H. (2005). Promoting The Kenyan Potato Value Chain: Can Contract Farming Help? Paper prepared for presentation at the 99thEAAE Seminar ‘Trustand Risks in Business Networks. Bonn,Germany.
Janssens, S. R., Wiersema, S. G., Goos, H., & Wiersema, W. (2013). The value chain seed and ware potatoes in Kenya.Opportunities for development . LEI Wageningen UR, Den Haag : Wageningen Centre for Development InnovationManagement.
Kaguongo, W. P., Gildemacher, P., Demo, P., Wagoire, W., Kinyae, P., Andrade, J., et al. (2008). Farmers practices and adoption of improved potato varieties in Kenya and Uganda. 85.
Kaguongo, W. P., Ng’ang’a, N. M., Muthoka, N., Muthami, F., & Maingi, G. (2010). Seed potato Subsector master plan for Kenya (2009-2014).Seed potato study sponsored by GTZ-PSDA, USAID, CIP and Government of Kenya. Nairobi,Kenya: Ministry of Agriculture.
Ketema, M., Kebede, D., Dechassa, N., & Hundessa, F. (2019). Determinants of adoption of potato production technology package by smallholder farmers: Evidences from Eastern Ethiopia. Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics , 19, 61-68.
Ketema, M., Kebede, D., Dechassa, N., & Hundessa, F. (2019). Determinants of adoption of potato production technology package by smallholder farmers: Evidences from Eastern Ethiopia. Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics , 19, 61-68.
Kiiya, W. W., Mureithi, J. G., & Kiama, J. M. (2006). Improving production of Potato (Solanum tuberosum, L.) in Kenya: The use of green manurelegumes for soil fertility Improvement .In: Development and upscaling of Green manure legumes Technologies in Kenya. KARI .
Kirumba, W., Kinyae, P., & Muchara, M. (2004). Potato Market. Survey Promotion of Private Sector Development in Agriculture. MOA .
KNBS. (2019). Distribution of Population by socio economic characteristics . Nairobi,Kenya: Kenya National Population Bureau of Statistics .
Kurui, N. J., Gatebe, E., & Mburu, C. (2014). Evaluation of Pesticide safety measures Adopted by Potato farmers in Chebiemit division,Elgeyo /Marakwet county,Kenya. JAGST .
Lind, D. A., Marchal, W. G., & Wathen, S. A. (2008). Statistical Techniques in Business & Economics (13th edition). USA: McGraw-Hill.
Manishimwe, R., Niyitanga, F., Nsabimana, S., Kabayiza, A., & Mutimawurugo, M.-C. (2019). Socio-economic and Institutional Factors Influencing the Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Production at Smallholder Farmers Level in the Gicumbi District in Rwanda. Tropicultura , 2295-8010.
Marakwet-West Constituency. (2022). Marakwet-West Constituency. Retrieved 5 8, 2022, from About Marakwet-West Constituency: https://marakwet-west.ngcdf.go.ke/
Mengui, K. C., Oh, S., & Lee, S. H. (2019). The Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Potato Producers in Santa Subdivision, Cameroon. Agriculture , 9.
Mwanja, W., Alinda, F., & Kiwanuka, M. (2016). Factors Affecting Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Potato Seed Production Technologies in South Western Uganda. International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research , 6, 503-512.
Naz, F., Ali, A., Iqbal, Z., Akhtar, N., Asghar, S., & Ahmad, B. (2011). Effect of different levels of NPK fertilizers on the proximate composition of potato crop at Abbottabad. Sarhad J. Agric. , 27 (3), 353-356.
Njagi, T., Kirimi, L., Kinyumu, E., & Bii, H. (2018). Cost of Production for Potatoes for the 2018 Main Cropping Season in Kenya(Policy Brief No. 33). Retrieved from https://www.tegemeo.org/images/_tegemeo_institute/downloads/publications/policy_briefs/policy_brief_33.pdf
Noltze, M., Schwarze, S., & Qaim, M. (2013). Impact s of Natural Resource Management Technologies on Agricultural Yield and Household Income: The System of Rice Intensification in Timor Leste. Ecological Economics , 59-68.
Okello, J. J., Zhou, Y., Kwikiriza, N., Ogutu, S. O., Barker, I., Geldermann, E. S., et al. (2016). Determinants of the Use of Certified Seed Potato among Smallholder Farmers: The Case of Potato Growers in Central and Eastern Kenya. Agriculture .
Omiti, j., Otieno, D., Nyanamba, T., & McCullough, E. (2009). Factors influencing the intensity of market participation by smallholder farmers: A case study of rural and peri-urban areas of Kenya. Afr. J. Agric. Resour. Econ. , 57–82.
Selahkwe, C., Nformi, M. I., Lengah, T. N., Nchanji, E. B., & Fotang, C. (2021). Factors That Determine the Adoption of Improved Potato Technologies by Farmers in the Western Region of Cameroon. Agricultural Sciences , 12, 1404-1413.
Shep Plus (2019). Potato Production. Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion Project for Local and Up-Scaling
Sumukwo, J., Wario, R. A., Mark, K., Grace, J. C., & Anderson, K. K. (2013). Valuation of insurance Demand for Non-timber Forest Producers in South Nandi,Kenya. Journal of emerging trends in economics and management , 4 (1), 89-97.
Worku, A. A. (2019). Factors Affecting Diffusion and Adoption of Agricultural Innovations among Farmers in Ethiopia Case Study of Ormia Regional State Western Sewa. International Journal of Agricultural Extension , 7, 137-147.
Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, R. S. (1994). Business Research Methods. USA: McGraw-Hill.
County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet. (2013 ). County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2013 - 2017 . Iten,Kenya: County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet.
FAO. (2008). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. International Year of the Potato.
FAO. (2014). FAO. Retrieved 1 2, 2017, from FAO: https://www.potatopro.com/world/potato-
FAO. (2019). FAO. Retrieved 5 4, 2022, from FAO: http://faostat3.fao.org.
FAOSTAT. (2019). Food and agriculture organization statistics of production quantities for Kenya World. Retrieved 1 2, 2022, from FAOSTAT: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#compare
FAOSTAT. (2022). Food and Agricultural Organization Of the United Nations. Retrieved 5 12, 2022, from https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL
Gebre, E., & Giorgis, G. W. (2001). Effects of spatial arrangement on tuber yields of some potato cultivars. Afri crop sci .
Hassen, A., Worku, A., Tafere, M., Tolla, M., & Ahmed, A. (2015). Best fite practice manual for potato production and utilization. Applicable for mid-altitude areas including South Achefer, Burie and Jabitehenan Districts of North-Western Ethiopia.
Hoeffler, H. (2005). Promoting The Kenyan Potato Value Chain: Can Contract Farming Help? Paper prepared for presentation at the 99thEAAE Seminar ‘Trustand Risks in Business Networks. Bonn,Germany.
Janssens, S. R., Wiersema, S. G., Goos, H., & Wiersema, W. (2013). The value chain seed and ware potatoes in Kenya.Opportunities for development . LEI Wageningen UR, Den Haag : Wageningen Centre for Development InnovationManagement.
Kaguongo, W. P., Gildemacher, P., Demo, P., Wagoire, W., Kinyae, P., Andrade, J., et al. (2008). Farmers practices and adoption of improved potato varieties in Kenya and Uganda. 85.
Kaguongo, W. P., Ng’ang’a, N. M., Muthoka, N., Muthami, F., & Maingi, G. (2010). Seed potato Subsector master plan for Kenya (2009-2014).Seed potato study sponsored by GTZ-PSDA, USAID, CIP and Government of Kenya. Nairobi,Kenya: Ministry of Agriculture.
Ketema, M., Kebede, D., Dechassa, N., & Hundessa, F. (2019). Determinants of adoption of potato production technology package by smallholder farmers: Evidences from Eastern Ethiopia. Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics , 19, 61-68.
Ketema, M., Kebede, D., Dechassa, N., & Hundessa, F. (2019). Determinants of adoption of potato production technology package by smallholder farmers: Evidences from Eastern Ethiopia. Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics , 19, 61-68.
Kiiya, W. W., Mureithi, J. G., & Kiama, J. M. (2006). Improving production of Potato (Solanum tuberosum, L.) in Kenya: The use of green manurelegumes for soil fertility Improvement .In: Development and upscaling of Green manure legumes Technologies in Kenya. KARI .
Kirumba, W., Kinyae, P., & Muchara, M. (2004). Potato Market. Survey Promotion of Private Sector Development in Agriculture. MOA .
KNBS. (2019). Distribution of Population by socio economic characteristics . Nairobi,Kenya: Kenya National Population Bureau of Statistics .
Kurui, N. J., Gatebe, E., & Mburu, C. (2014). Evaluation of Pesticide safety measures Adopted by Potato farmers in Chebiemit division,Elgeyo /Marakwet county,Kenya. JAGST .
Lind, D. A., Marchal, W. G., & Wathen, S. A. (2008). Statistical Techniques in Business & Economics (13th edition). USA: McGraw-Hill.
Manishimwe, R., Niyitanga, F., Nsabimana, S., Kabayiza, A., & Mutimawurugo, M.-C. (2019). Socio-economic and Institutional Factors Influencing the Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Production at Smallholder Farmers Level in the Gicumbi District in Rwanda. Tropicultura , 2295-8010.
Marakwet-West Constituency. (2022). Marakwet-West Constituency. Retrieved 5 8, 2022, from About Marakwet-West Constituency: https://marakwet-west.ngcdf.go.ke/
Mengui, K. C., Oh, S., & Lee, S. H. (2019). The Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Potato Producers in Santa Subdivision, Cameroon. Agriculture , 9.
Mwanja, W., Alinda, F., & Kiwanuka, M. (2016). Factors Affecting Farmers’ Adoption of Improved Potato Seed Production Technologies in South Western Uganda. International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research , 6, 503-512.
Naz, F., Ali, A., Iqbal, Z., Akhtar, N., Asghar, S., & Ahmad, B. (2011). Effect of different levels of NPK fertilizers on the proximate composition of potato crop at Abbottabad. Sarhad J. Agric. , 27 (3), 353-356.
Njagi, T., Kirimi, L., Kinyumu, E., & Bii, H. (2018). Cost of Production for Potatoes for the 2018 Main Cropping Season in Kenya(Policy Brief No. 33). Retrieved from https://www.tegemeo.org/images/_tegemeo_institute/downloads/publications/policy_briefs/policy_brief_33.pdf
Noltze, M., Schwarze, S., & Qaim, M. (2013). Impact s of Natural Resource Management Technologies on Agricultural Yield and Household Income: The System of Rice Intensification in Timor Leste. Ecological Economics , 59-68.
Okello, J. J., Zhou, Y., Kwikiriza, N., Ogutu, S. O., Barker, I., Geldermann, E. S., et al. (2016). Determinants of the Use of Certified Seed Potato among Smallholder Farmers: The Case of Potato Growers in Central and Eastern Kenya. Agriculture .
Omiti, j., Otieno, D., Nyanamba, T., & McCullough, E. (2009). Factors influencing the intensity of market participation by smallholder farmers: A case study of rural and peri-urban areas of Kenya. Afr. J. Agric. Resour. Econ. , 57–82.
Selahkwe, C., Nformi, M. I., Lengah, T. N., Nchanji, E. B., & Fotang, C. (2021). Factors That Determine the Adoption of Improved Potato Technologies by Farmers in the Western Region of Cameroon. Agricultural Sciences , 12, 1404-1413.
Shep Plus (2019). Potato Production. Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion Project for Local and Up-Scaling
Sumukwo, J., Wario, R. A., Mark, K., Grace, J. C., & Anderson, K. K. (2013). Valuation of insurance Demand for Non-timber Forest Producers in South Nandi,Kenya. Journal of emerging trends in economics and management , 4 (1), 89-97.
Worku, A. A. (2019). Factors Affecting Diffusion and Adoption of Agricultural Innovations among Farmers in Ethiopia Case Study of Ormia Regional State Western Sewa. International Journal of Agricultural Extension , 7, 137-147.
Published
2023-05-18
How to Cite
Cheruiyot, J., Anjichi, V. E., & Ombati, J. M. (2023, May 18). Assessment of Potato Production Technologies Among Smallholder Farmers in Marakwet West Sub-County, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. African Journal of Education,Science and Technology, 7(3), Pg 915-926. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2022/ajest.v7i3.928
Issue
Section
Articles
